وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا تَبَرَّءُوا۟ مِنَّا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ ٱللَّهُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ حَسَرَٰتٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَمَا هُم بِخَـٰرِجِينَ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ 167
Translations
Those who followed will say, "If only we had another turn [at worldly life] so we could disassociate ourselves from them as they have disassociated themselves from us." Thus will Allāh show them their deeds as regrets upon them. And they are never to emerge from the Fire.
Transliteration
Wa qāla alladhīna ittaba'ū law anna lanā karrata fa natbarraʾa minhum kamā tabarraʾū minnā. Kadhālika yurīhim Allāhu aʿmālahum hasrātin ʿalayhim wa mā hum bi khārijīn min al-nār.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the regret and mutual disavowal that will occur between followers and their leaders on the Day of Judgment. The followers wish they could return to life and disassociate themselves from their leaders just as those leaders disown them, yet this opportunity is denied. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that Allah will make them witness their deeds as sources of anguish and regret, and they will remain eternally in the Fire with no escape.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of those who rejected faith and their leaders. It follows the narrative of the Day of Judgment and the separation between those who led others astray and those who blindly followed them, illustrating the consequences of misguided leadership and blind obedience.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) warned: 'Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward like that of those who follow him, without any reduction in their reward.' This highlights the serious responsibility of leadership. Additionally, Surah Al-Isra (17:15) complements this with the principle that no soul bears the burden of another.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should critically examine those they follow in matters of faith and not blindly obey leaders, and leaders bear grave responsibility for those they guide; true guidance comes from Allah's revelation, not from the whims of fallible humans.